Signal system for printing presses



March 10, 1931.. I w;s 1,795,316

' SIGNAL SYSTEM FCIJR PRINTING PRESSES Filed Dec. 51. 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY March 10, 1931. E..W. sEEGER smmp SYSTEM FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed Dec. 31, 1926 3, Sheets-Sheet 2 3 w z i 50 :2 a 5g MEN 2 0 NN a2 a a M: n 3 5w 3 2 $3 Q 2-2 a:

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A TTORNEY March 10, 1931. E. w. SEEGER SIGNAL SYSTEM FOR PRINTING PRESSE'S Filed Dec. 31, 1926 S'Sheets-Sheet 3 mmmmm on +3 8 .9

wig s$ P $-m3 wig m NET? s :3 mmzokzsw Jomkzoo m IN VEN TOR. 7-9). gage v SAM/M BY ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 10, 1931 6 UNITED "STATES PATENT OFFICE;

EDWIN W. SEEGER, OF SO UTH MILWAUKEE, VJISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE AS- SIGNMENTS, TO CUTLER-HAMMER, INC.,

TION OF DELAWARE 0F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORA- SIGNAL SYSTEM FOR PRINTING PRESSES Application filed December 31, 1926.

This invention relates to controllers for multi-unit printing presses and similar mechanisms and is particularly applicable to signal systems therefor.

The patent to Thomas H. Rodman and Paul V]. Darlington, No. 1,616,760, dated February 8, 1927, discloses a control system for 'nulti-unit printing presses including driving connections which are commutatable to suit various drive combinations between the driving and driven units and control switches operable to effect control commutations to suit the various drive combinations.

An object of the present invention to provide a controller of the aforesaid character having improved signalling means associated therewith for indicating whether or not the driving connections are properly set for a given drive combination.

Another object is to provide a controller of the aforesaid character having improved signalling means associated therewith for indicating whether or not the circuit controlling switches are properly set for a given drive combination.

Various other objects and advantages of 'he invention will hereinafter appear.

The accompanying drawings schematically and diagrammatically illustrate an embodiment of the invention which will now. be described, it being understood that the embodiment illustrated may be modified in certain respects without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

In the drawing,

Figure 1 is a schematic view of the driven units and the drives therefor;

Fig. 2 is a schematic and diagrammatic view of the driven units and driving motors therefor, together with commutatable control means for the motors;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of a signalling system for the driving means illustrated in Fig. 1, and

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of a signalling system for the commutatable control means illustrated in Fig. 2.

Referring to Fig. 1, the same illustrates a driven machine which may be assumed to be a printing press comprising twelve printing Serial No. 158,295.

units A'to L and folders FL to FL*, one for each group of three printing units. 'Each printing unit may be assumed to be designed to print eight pages, and each group of three printing units, and the folder therefor is provided with a double motor drive, although it is of course to be understood that the number of units in each group may be either decreased or increased as desired. v

As illustrated the group of printingunits A, B and C and folder FL has a drive M comprising a'large motor 6 and a small motor 7, said motors driving through a chain 8 and sprockets 9 and 10, a counter shaft 11 which is connected to a shaft 14: by a set of gears G one of which is slidable on the shaft 11. The printing units A, B and C and folder FL are each connected to shaft 14 by a set of bevel gears, one gear of eachset being slidable on said shaft to disconnect its respective unit therefrom. The remaining groups of printing units and folders are respectively provided with like motor drives M M and M which drive through like connections shafts 15, 16 and 17 of said groups. Each motor drive is preferably designed tobe capable of driving as many as six printing units and one folder and the shafts 14:, 15, 16 and 17 are provided with couplings therebetween and between sections thereof whereby the motors may be so employed and moreover employed alternatively.

More specifically the shafts 14; and 15 have a coupling 18 therebetween while shafts 15 and 16 have a coupling 19 therebetween,-and shafts 16 and 17 have a coupling 20 therehetween. Further the shaft 15 is interrupted between printing units D and E and has one of the gears G rotatably mounted on one section thereof to be coupled to the two sections of said shaft selectively or to both by couplings 21 and22. Similarly the shaft 16 is interrupted between printing units H and I and one of the gears G is mounted on one section and provided with couplings 23 and 2 1 to connect the same to the two sections of said shaft selectively, or to both.

The aforedescribed driving connections provide a large number of driving combinalid) ' each to print a l8 p e paper.

tions for the units and the following tabulation sets forth certain of such combinations.

Couplings Slip gears Comb. Press Drive Folder In Out In Out 1 ABC o FL 18 o -a 2 our M? FL? 21-22 13-19 G 3 cm M9 rm 23-24 19-20 o -c 4 JKL 11 1 FL 20 G 5 ABCD M1 FL 18 21 G1-A n ABCD M r11 18-21 22 GLA o 7 men M2 r1, 22-19 21-23 o -c- 8 EFGH NU F113 19-23 22-24 GLG 9 1.1151. 1.1 rL- 24-20 23 o o 10 IJKL M4 m 20 24 G ll BCDEF lVl FL2 18*21-22 19 G1 G?\ 12 scour M2 rL 18-21-22 10 o 13 HIJKL in run 22-24-20 1 1 cu o -o 14 11mm M4 r1 23-24-20 11; o o l5 ABC/DEF hi Flfi lit-2P2 l9 (i -A G2 16 ABCDEF hi FL? 18-21-22 19 LA (l 17 GHIJKL .11 F1; 23-24-20 19 o -o o 18 GHIJKL 11 1 F11 23-24-2 19 o -o o As apparent from the above tabulation the aforedescrihed driving connections onable the units to be operated as four sextuple presses each to print a 524 page paper; or threeoctuple pr asses each to print a 32 page paper; or two dessuple presses each to print a. 40 page paper; or as two sextuple presses a Also, is apparent from the following tabulation each of the aforementioned presses of four or more units may be driven by either of a plurality of drives selectively.

As shown in 1 each of the couplings and each of the slip gears designated in the foregoing tabulation is provided, with a switch arm having two sets of cooperating stationary contacts and as hereinafter set forth these switch arms and their cooperatinp; contacts serve to control signal lamps for indicating whether or not the driving connections are properly set for a given drive combination.

Referring now to Fig. 2, the same shows the printing units, folders and drives together with control panels C C C and C". one for each driving'unit and folder. and switches 30 to 42, inclusive, for effecting: control connnutations in accordance with the aforedcscribed mechanical dr' con'lbinations. As will be understood the c ntrol station of each printing; unit and folder must be given control over the drive to wnich said unit or folder is coupled and as will be apparent from the aforedescrihed mechanical drive conibina ions certain of the stations must be capable of connection to any one of three drives. Also as will hereinafter appear other commutations are to be effected and the switches 30 to 4-2 provide for all such commutations and further provide for disconnection of the control station each printing unit or folder when silenced.

Each of the switches 30 to 42, inclusive, has two positions to which it may be moved selectively, one position being indicated by the full line extending obliquely from the right side thereof and the other position being indicated by the dotted oblique line. Each switch when positioned as indicated by the full line serves to connect the cable leading thereto from the left to the cable, if any, leading from the upper end thereof, while in the absence of the latter cable the switch disconnects the former cable from circuit. 011 the other hand, each switch when positioned as indicated by the dotted line connect-s the cable leading thereto from the left to the cable leading from its lower one. in the following description the full line position of the control switches will be termed the normal position thereof, while the dotted line position will be termed the parallel position thereof.

For a better understanding of the function and operation of the variou control switches the control con'imutations effected by a plurality of switches as for example si-twitches 35 and 36 will be described. Switch 35 in its normal position, connects the station S of press E to switch 36, and the latter switch in its normal position connects the former station to control panel On the other hand, by moving the switch 36 to its parallel position, toe circuit from the aforementioned control station S may be shifted to panel C and by moving the switch 35 to its parallel position the circuit from said station may be shifted to panel C lhe other control switches effect similar control coinmutations and the following tabulation sets forth the required control commutations for the drive combinations set forth in the preceding tabrlation.

As shown in Fig. 2, each control switch is provided with two sets of auxiliary stationary contacts to be respectively bridired in the normal and parallel positions of said switch. and hereinafter forth such contacts serve to control signalling lamps for 1nd1cating whether or not the control switches are properly set for a given drive colnhinat1on. 1

Referring now to Fi s. 3 and i, the same dlagrannnatically illustrate two banks of with the aforedescribed couplings and slip L by are arranged signal lamps SL and SL the former bank to be controlled by the contacts associated gears and the latter bank to be controlled by the auxiliary contacts associated with the aforedescribed control switches. The lamps of each bank are arranged in 18 horizontal rows, one row being provided for each of the combinations set forth in the foregoing tabulations. Each horizontal row of lamps of the bank SL is provided with a lamp corresponding toeach coupling and slip gear, while each horizontal rowof lamps of the bank SL is provided with a lamp corresponding to each control switch. The lamps corresponding to each coupling and slip gear in bank SL are arranged one above the other to provide vertical rows, and the lamps 'corresponding to each control switch in bank SL are similarly arranged.

Each bank of lamps has aselector switch SS associated therewith comprising a movable contact arm and eighteen cooperating stationary contacts each corresponding to one drive or control commutation as the case maybe. The supply circuit for each bank of lamps is indicated by lines L L and the movable contact element of each of the switches SS is permanently connected to'the line L while the stationary contacts of said switches are each permanently connected to the lower terminals of all of the lamps corresponding to a given drive or control commutation as the-case may be. The upper terminals of the lamps in the bank SL are arranged to be selectively connected to line the switches associated with the aforedescribed couplings and slip gears whilethe upper terminals of the lamps-in bank SL to be selectively connected to line L by the auxiliary switches associated with the aforedescribed control switches.

To assist in understanding the circuit connections for the signal lamps in banks SL and SL the settings of the slip gears and couplings for the various drive combinations are shown opposite the corresponding rows of lamps in the bank SL while the settingsof the control switches for the various combinations are shown opposite the corresponding rows of lamps in bank SL Also in Fig. 3 the auxiliary contacts associated with the couplings and slip gears are diagrammatically illustrated above their corresponding vertical rows of lamps and it is assumed that in the engaged position of a coupling or slip gear its associated movable contact element engages the left hand stationary contacts, while inthe disengaged position thereof its associated movable contact element engages the right hand stationary contacts. Also in Fig. 4; the auxiliary contacts associated with the control switches are shown directly above their corresponding vertical rows of lamps and it is assumed that in the parallel position engaged positions, and

of a control switch its associated contact element engages the left hand stationary contacts, while in the normal position thereof the associated movable contact element engages the right hand stationary contacts' It will be apparent upon examination of the circuit connections shown in Fig. 3 that upon setting of the selector switch SS in a bination will be lighted, providing the va.

rio-ns control switches are properly set for such control combination.

For example, assuming that it is desired to set the drive connections and also'the control switches for combination 7 in the foregoing tabulations, selector switches SS and SS are set in the dotted line positions indicatedv 1n 3 and 4tto connect all of the lamps in the rows corresponding to such combinations to line If. In 8 it will be noted that-for drive combination 7 it is necessary to set couplings 22 and 19 in their engaged positions; couplings 21 and 23 in their disslip gears G and G in their engaged positions. Assuming that said couplings and slip gears are set in this manner, the lamps corresponding to couplings'22 and 19 and the slip gears G and G will then be lighted by connection thereof to line L through the movable contacts and their left hand stationary contacts, while the lamps corresponding to couplings 21 and 23 will then be lighted by connection thereof to line L through the associated movable contacts and their right hand cooperating stationary contacts. It should also be noted that the other lamps in the row corresponding to drive con'ibinati on T will be lighted through the medium of the switches associated with the aforesaid couplings and slip gears. The lamp corresponding to coupling 18 will be energized through the medium of the contacts associated with coupling 21; the lamps corresponding to couplings 20 and 24 will be energized through the medium of the contacts associated with coupling 28; the lamps associated with slip gears G and G will be energized through the medium of the contacts associated with slig gear G and the lamps corresponding to slip gears G and A will be energized through the medium of the contacts associated with slip gear G. I

Also in 4, it will be observed that upon setting of the control switches in the required positions for combination 7 the lamps corresponding to switches 32, 35, 37, 38 and ll will be lighted by connection thereof to line L through the medium 0 the movable c ntacts associat d with said switches and their left hand cooperating stationary contacts, rhile the lamps corresponding to control switches 233, 3a and 39 will be lighted by connection vierect to line L through the medium of he movable contacts associated with said latter switches and their cooperating right hand stationary contacts. The other lamps in, the row corresponding to combination 7 will be lighted by connection to line L throu h the medium of the contacts associated Winn the aforementioned control. switches. lhe lamps corrcsponoing to control switches and 31 will. l ener 'ized through the medium of the contacts associated with switch 32; the lamp corresponding to control switch 36 will be energized through the medium of the auxiliary contacts associated with SHVliCl'l 37; the lamp corresponding to switch 40 will be energized througl'i the medium of the contacts associated with s 'itch 39 and the lamp corresponding to switch 42 will be energized through the medium of the auxiliary contacts associated with transfer switch 41.

In connection *ith the foregoing it should be noted that although separate banks of sigtcmg of the drive connections and the control switches it is apparent that the two banks of lamps may be combined if desired and a single selector switch can be employed in connection therewith. Furthermore, it is apparent that where certain of the couplings, slip gears or the control switches do not enter into a given drive combination the corr spondi signal lamps may be omitted in the row corresponding to such combination.

lVhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination, a plurality of driven and motor driving units, devices to be set in (ii lierent relative positions to provide at least three different drive con'ibinations between said units, a plurality of rows of signal lamps each corresponding to one of said drive combinations and containing a lamp correspond- .ingto each of said devices, a selector switch requiring setting in different positions for said drive combinations and means for energizing all of the lamps corresponding to a given drive combination upon proper setting of the devices and said selector switch for such combination.

In combination, a plurality of driven and motor driving units, devices to be set in different relative positions to provide atleast three different drive combinations between rid units, a plurality of rows of signal lamps, each row corresponding to one of said drive con'ibinations and containing a lamp corresponding to each of said devices, a selector switch associated with said lamps to be set in different positions for said drive comrnnps are employed for indicating the binations, and circuit connections controlled by said devices and said selector switch for energizing all of the lamps in a given row upon proper setting of said devices for the drive combination corresponding to said row.

3. In combination, a plurality of driven and motor driving units, drive commutatingmeans therebetween including releasable IJOVV'QI transmitting devices to be set in ditferent relative positions to provide at least three diil'erent drive combinations, a controller for each of said driving units, a control station for each of said driven units, commutating means between said controllers and said stations including switches to be set in different relative positions to connect said controllers and said stations in ditierent combinations corresponding to said drive combinations, plurality of rows of lamps each corresponding to one of said drive combinations and control means for said lamps insuring energizati on of all of the lamps in a given row upon proper setting of said releasable power transmitting devices and said control switches for a given drive combination.

l. In combination, a plurality of driven units, a plurality of motor driving units, a plurality of devices adapted to be set in different positions to render certain of said 1110- tor units capable of driving difierent driven units to provide at least three different drive combinations, a plurality of rows 0'? signal lamps, each row corresponding to one of said drive combinations and containing a lamp corresponding to each of said devices, and means for energizing all of the lamps in a given row upon proper setting of said devices for a corresponding drive combination.

5. In combination, a plurality of driven units, a plurality of motor driving units, a plurality of devices, certain of which are adapted to be set in different positions to render certain of said motor units capable of driving dii'lerent driven units to provide at least three ditl'erent drive combinations, :1 plitirality of rows of signal lamps, each row corresponding to one oi said drive combinations and containing a lamp corresponding to each of said devices, and circuit connections controlled by said devices for energizing all of the lamps in a given row upon proper setting of said devices for the drive combination corresponding to said row.

In witness whereof, l have hereunto subscribed my name.

EDl VIN V. SEEGER. 

